CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6] — Page 88

Enclosure

15th April, 1885.

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C. O.

0049

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,As I have already intimated to my Honourable Friend, I have not as yet received the reply of the Imperial Authorities with reference to the subjects of the Resolution passed by this Council on the 1st April. The Council may rest assured that I will always communicate to them forthwith every decision of the Imperial Government affecting the interests of this Colony. I am glad, however, that the Honourable Gentleman has asked this question, for it gives me an opportunity of laying before you a further official statement on the matters to which it refers. As you, Honourable Gentlemen, are already aware, a paternal Governor had anticipated your wishes in the matters referred to in the Resolution of the 1st April, as also with regard to the fortification of Hong- kong generally; and what has been done already, and is now doing for our Defences, is mainly due (as there is abundant documentary evidence to prove), to my constant and urgent representations during the two years of my administration here, both in official despatches, and in private letters to my personal friends among English Statesmen and among the chief Military Authorities in England. It was very satisfactory to me to observe that all the speakers at the recent discussion in this Council fully recognised my foresight, energy,

and perseverance in promoting the true interests of this Colony in these and in all other matters; and to hear the Honourable Gentleman who represents the Chamber of Commerce declare that "a time "of emergency has now arisen, and it is in times of emergency that we should all act together "and rally round the Governor for the common good."

It will be recollected that I expressed a hope that the Resolution of the 1st April would be passed unanimously, because it would add force to the representations which I had already made to the Imperial Authorities on the subjects of which it treated. Accordingly, on the 2nd April, I telegraphed to the Secretary of State that the Legislative Council, as well as the Admiral and General Commanding Her Majesty's Forces on this Station, concurred with me on the points in question. As I said just now, I have not as yet received any reply to my telegram of the 2nd instant. I must here remark that if Honourable Gentlemen knew, as well as do, through my experience as Governor for above a quarter of a century, the length of time required for official correspondence between the different departments of the Imperial Administration, they would not be so sanguine in the expectation of speedy answers in inatters of this nature. From the official papers which I laid before you a fortnight ago (No. 14), you will have perceived that it required nineteen days to receive a reply on the much simpler matter of the calibre of the Ordnance to be mounted on the new Forts. Now the questions treated of in the Resolution of the 1st April, viz.: (1) the provision of direct telegraphic communication between Hongkong and Singapore, and (2) the provision of “a Flotilla of Torpedo-boats, fully equipped," -would require an exchange of official correspond- ence between the Colonial Office, the War Office, the Admiralty, the Directors of the Tele- graph Company, and, above all, the Imperial Treasury, the approval of which is necessary the expenditure of public money in each and all of the public Departments. However, I yes- terday telegraphed once more, urging an early reply showing the decision of Her Majesty's Government concerning direct telegraphic communication, and a further supply of Torpedo- bonts; and also asking when the heavy Ordnance for the new Forts may be expected to arrive. I will now make some further observations on each of the two matters treated of in the Resolution:-

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(1.) With regard to the proposed Telegraph to Singapore, I have been in correspondence respecting it with the Manager, and find that the Eastern Extension Company would require ' a guarantee of £20,000 a year, for twenty years, before undertaking to lay a direct cable. You already know that the Executive Council of Hongkong, while agreeing with me and with this Council as to the importance of a direct cable, has decided that, especially in the yard present condition of our revenue, this Colony is wholly unable to offer any substantial aid to this project.

I have already stated, moreover, that the Acting Governor of the Straits Settlements has informed me that the view of his Government is similar, and that it would not be prepared to give material assistance. It remains to be seen what will be the decision of the Imperial Government on my strong representations, afterwards supported by this Council. (2.) I now come to the second proposal, which I, and most others who have given thought and attention to the matter, consider to be more likely to prove feasible, viz., the provision of a Flotilla of eight Torpedo-boats, which the Naval Authorities consider to be amply sufficient. As I have already informed you, Admiral Sir W. DOWELL has left the four Torpedo-boats now on this station to strengthen the Naval defence of our harbour. have, as you know, asked that four more Torpedo-boats may be sent out; but, though I have not as yet received the decision of the Imperial Government, I learn from other sources that